Steven Plumb was one of 11 leaders, out of 10,000 in the Sam Houston Area Council of Scouting America, to receive the distinguished Silver Beaver Award on Jan. 10. The Silver Beaver is the highest honor a local Scout council can bestow upon an adult leader.
For the last 18 years, Plumb has been a leader in Troop 806 (for boys) and Troop 1806 (for girls), chartered to the Brotherhood of Congregation Beth Israel. His service also includes many years as an assistant Scoutmaster and Scoutmaster of the boys’ troop and Troop Committee chair of the girls’ troop. During this time, he and his wife Tammy’s sons, Nathan and Jacob, and their daughter, Sarah, have each earned the Eagle Scout rank.
During the last three years, the Sam Houston Area Council called on Plumb to serve as chairman of the Apollo District, covering Southwest Houston. This area represents 97 Scout troops, Cub Packs and Venturing Crews – serving 912 youth. His leadership and enthusiasm raised the district to one of the most outstanding in the council.
Plumb’s reputation in Jewish Scouting is nationwide. In 2014, he wrote “The Guide to Sabbath Observant Scouting,” a book about shomer Shabbat observance for Scouts. He chairs the Houston Jewish Committee on Scouting and was recently elected to the National Jewish Committee on Scouting. He received the National Jewish Committee’s Shofar Award for service to Jewish youth in Scouting.
Plumb is very active in the Jewish community, serving as chair of the Houston Kashruth Association. He is a former member of the board of Robert M. Beren Academy and the barbecue master for many United Orthodox Synagogues events. He is a CPA and president of Clear Financial Solutions, Inc.